Moringa - the Miracle Tree

[Pugo]

Went shopping this weekend for some Lemon Grass, and to my surprise we found this, the interesting part my wife started to jump up and down, they have it they have it, they have Malunggay (aka Moringa) So we picked up three trees will have to plant them in the ground tomorrow. Funny they have the tree here but no one knows anything about it other than it is pretty....LOL
http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k548/loong-gingoog/radompics001-10.jpg
http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k548/loong-gingoog/radompics002-10.jpg
http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k548/loong-gingoog/radompics003-10.jpg

[kingjam]

Pugo,
I am so happy for you on finding the trees. Just be careful not to defoliate your trees by eating too much of it. I have been eating the leaves and feeding a little to the fish which are getting used to it.
Kingjam

[Pugo]

These trees grow like weeds, at least here in Asian so not to worried I think my wife has plans on leaving them alone for a few months before she starts in on them, well that is what I am hoping..:)

[vihalvor]

dont forget to prune it, or it wil grow straight up .... :P

[Pugo]

I think my wife will not leave anything to be pruned.. she seemed to be so happy having food from home at her finger tips..:)

[Shane]

dont forget to prune it, or it wil grow straight up .... :P

Vihalvor,
Approximately, what height will they grow to?

[vihalvor]

uhm .... i forgot.. but as high as a man .. easily.... unless pruned they will grow TALL, straight up with a puny top bush...
if pruned, then there will grow sprigs around the cutoff part, to form 3-4 new branches.. so planned pruning can make a VERy nice bush, if the leaves are what youre after...

[Pugo]

I got mine in the ground today. I have seen them 15 feet high, But I would think they could be larger, The one in my yard in the Philippines was something like ten feet tall and it was only a couple of years old the last time I saw it. But I think it had too grow or die as all the lower branhes had been picked clean:)

[kingjam]

Hi Pugo,

I've never eaten Moringa. Can you liken it to anything that you've eaten previously.......like spinach, silver beet or bok choi?

Gary

Gary
Eaten raw it tastes like the leaf of the chinese pack choy. Its very easy to eat raw with no unpleasant taste. Can't wait for my three trees to really put on lots of leaves so I can use as vegetable. They have grown 2' in two weeks. I will soon cut them back so I can get more leaves to eat and to break apical dominance so that I can begin to grow multiple stems.

My large tilapia seem not to like to eat the leaves or either moringa or sweet potato, however the smaller fish seem to relish both these plants. The older wild-caught fish tend to be more picky.

[Shane]

Has anyone here tried to grow one in a temperate climate?

[vihalvor]

not me . but if its really a great tree... then ill smuggle home a few seeds to lay dormant there till next year when i move to Norway... then ill grow it in the basement.. hehehhehe.. personally ... id rather grow a papaya tree in the basement, truth be told.. that would be the MOTHER of all brag-rights in norway.. .can u imagine getting to eat FRESH harvested papaya ( paw PAw ) in the middle of a blistering blizzard ? . heeee heee heee....and strawberries ofcourse....

[Pugo]

Vidar,
I just can't picture living in Norway anymore, just to cold.. don't know how you can go back to that climate.. let alone the costs of living :(

[vihalvor]

as to the cost of living... offset by equal salary.. but for the cold.. yeah you're right.. i do NOT like it... nor will i ever.. thats why im vehemently advocating to my wife a retirement farm here... .... organic efficient farming, AP and HP , .. a few hectare should be all whats needed for an OK living here.. who says you need a mansion and a host of servant to enjoy life... :smile: